The 2024 Vietnam-Japan Culture Festival marks its 9th annual event, celebrating the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973–2024). This year's festival featured a variety of vibrant cultural exchange activities.
Attendees included representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Da Nang, local government departments, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organizations, high school principals, Japanese businesses in Vietnam, and an artistic troupe from Tokyo, Japan.
With numerous Vietnamese-Japanese cultural exchange activities throughout the day, the festival was open to all students, high schoolers, and locals interested in exploring Japanese culture, language, and people. This year, the event attracted over 4,000 participants.
In his opening speech, Mr. Shimonishi Kiyoshi, Deputy Consul General of Japan in Da Nang, emphasized the importance of understanding culture when learning a language. He noted, "Today's Vietnam-Japan Culture Festival is a significant event that enhances Japanese language skills through cultural appreciation." He expressed happiness over the increasing number of Vietnamese students learning Japanese, especially at Dong A University, hoping they will become "bridges" for future Vietnam-Japan relations.
Mr. Luong Minh Sam, Chairman of the University Board, shared that the festival serves as an interesting international exchange channel, allowing students and locals to explore Japanese culture while strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two countries. He highlighted the university’s role in fostering close ties with over 130 partners in Japan, including universities, research institutes, and businesses.
The festival vividly showcased Vietnamese and Japanese cultural spaces with impressive performances from the Japanese artistic troupe alongside Dong A University students. The vibrant yosakoi dance and the mashup performance of "Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana" marked the beginning of the cultural exchange activities at the festival.
Students attending the festival explored six engaging themes related to Japanese culture, music, and workplace skills, learning about traditional Japanese culture, the significance of music, new job types in Japan, and more. These insights aimed to prepare students for future educational and career opportunities in Japan.
Artist Sakamoto Koichi, head of the Japanese artistic troupe, expressed excitement about the cultural performances, including kimono demonstrations and traditional calligraphy, allowing students to engage directly with Japanese culture.
The festival also featured traditional games from both Vietnamese and Japanese cultures, such as bamboo dancing and Sudoku, along with 14 booths showcasing Vietnamese and Japanese culinary delights and traditional games. Highlights included the unique Nagashi Somen bamboo noodle festival and a flashmob competition with 50 participating teams performing Vietnamese and Japanese songs. A much-anticipated cosplay performance brought together over 100 students, high schoolers, and Japanese artists.
The evening concluded with a vibrant Vietnam-Japan artistic program, featuring dynamic singing and dancing performances by talented students and the Japanese troupe. A standout moment was a colorful reenactment of the sweet wedding scene between Princess Ngoc Hoa and merchant Araki Sotaro in the 16th century, further illuminating the enduring bond between Vietnam and Japan.